Crafts on the Crystal Coast to benefit hospice

Published: Friday, November 1, 2013 at 09:30 AM.

Beer enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the art of brewing while supporting a regional nonprofit.

The second annual Crafts on the Crystal Coast Beer Festival will benefit the Crystal Coast Hospice House with 100 percent of its proceeds aiding the nonprofit. More than 40 breweries from in and outside the state will offer their brews from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell St. in Morehead City.

Robin Nelson is the executive director of Crystal Coast Hospice House, a local non-profit organization which raised funds to build and open the SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House on July 1.

Nelson said the beer festival is part of the organization’s annual efforts to raise funds, which will maintain the hospice house’s operations, help with public education and awareness about what hospice does and develop patient bereavement programs to help families cope with their loss.

According to Nelson, the hospice house serves a five-county area: Carteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow and Pamlico.

Since they opened in July, they have served close to 60 families in their 10-patient suite, Nelson said, with three levels of care: residential, acute and respite.

Beer enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the art of brewing while supporting a regional nonprofit.

The second annual Crafts on the Crystal Coast Beer Festival will benefit the Crystal Coast Hospice House with 100 percent of its proceeds aiding the nonprofit. More than 40 breweries from in and outside the state will offer their brews from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell St. in Morehead City.

Robin Nelson is the executive director of Crystal Coast Hospice House, a local non-profit organization which raised funds to build and open the SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House on July 1.

Nelson said the beer festival is part of the organization’s annual efforts to raise funds, which will maintain the hospice house’s operations, help with public education and awareness about what hospice does and develop patient bereavement programs to help families cope with their loss.

According to Nelson, the hospice house serves a five-county area: Carteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow and Pamlico.

Since they opened in July, they have served close to 60 families in their 10-patient suite, Nelson said, with three levels of care: residential, acute and respite.

Nelson said the festival raised nearly $17,000 last year. They hope to raise even more this year to spread the word about Hospice House and also showcase a burgeoning industry in the state.

Crafts on the Crystal Coast Beer Festival began last year, according to Grey Sabiston, a volunteer for the festival who runs Hannah’s Haus, a bar on Live Oak Street in Beaufort. Last year the festival brought in close to 40 breweries and 70 craft beers. This year, he said, they are shooting for 50 breweries and 100 craft beers.

Many of the breweries will come from North Carolina — which has 79 breweries and expects to break 100 by the end of the year — but Sabiston said he is also bringing in breweries from out-of-state, so festival-goers will get to taste beers they may not normally get the chance to try.

And because their festival is after the usual “beerfest mania” of September and October, Sabiston said many breweries are willing to come and donate their beer for their 100 percent-for-charity event.

It’s a cause which is close to Sabiston’s heart.

He was personally touched by the “warm and dignified” work that the Crystal Coast Hospice House did when his wife’s father was diagnosed with lung cancer which metastasized to brain cancer after a few months.

“These nurses are so sincere about what they do,” he said. “They were really good to my wife and made it easier for her.”

Sabiston said many people do not have a place to go when they become ill, and the hospice house provides that haven for them.

“Hospice is in itself the sales pitch for me,” he said of why folks should go out to the beer festival.

He said their festival differs from others because it provides a low-key atmosphere for beer-enthusiasts to enjoy the drink and discuss the beverage without the sometimes distracting live music or party-mentality.

In addition, he said they planned it on Veterans Day weekend so veterans can come out, enjoy the beer at their leisure and not have to worry about work the next day.

The festival will feature a one-hour VIP time, when people who have bought VIP passes can enjoy food from around a dozen local restaurants. In addition, he said the week leading up to the festival they are encouraging those restaurants to serve the featured beers in their establishments.

Those festival-goers who pay for general admission tickets will have the opportunity to enjoy concessions from Fat Fellas out of Newport.

T-shirts will also be sold for $6, and all participants will get the chance to dance at the silent disco, where a disc jockey mixes music into headphones and participants can bust a move to the sweet sounds while onlookers watch the dance party but don’t hear the music.

Some breweries expected to be on hand the day of the festival include Mill Whistle Brewing, Coastal Beverage Company, New Belgium Brewing, Samuel Adams, Shiner, Harpoon Brewery, Woodchuck Hard Cider and Blue Moon.

VIP tickets cost $50 and include a 1 p.m. entry and food from local restaurants. General admission tickets cost $40 with admission at 2 p.m.

People under the age of 21 are not allowed to attend the event.

To learn more about the Crystal Coast Hospice House, visit crystalcoasthospicehouse.org.

To purchase tickets for the event, visit crystalcoastbeer.eventbrite.com.

Want to go?

The second annual Crafts on the Crystal Coast Beer Festival benefiting the Crystal Coast Hospice House will be held on Nov. 10 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City.

VIP tickets are $50 and admit visitors from 1 to 5 p.m. General Admission tickets are $40 and admit visitors from 2 to 5 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Crystal Coast Hospice House.